Method and apparatus for twist detection and detwister control



W. E. DEAN Aug. 21, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWIST DETECTION AND DETWISTER CONTROL Filed June 17, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnvezaio Aug. 21, 1956 w. E. DEAN 2,759,324

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWIST DETECTION AND DETWISTER CONTROL Filed June 17, 1954. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. E. DEAN Aug. 21, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWIST DETECTION AND DETWISTER CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 17, 1954 United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWTST DETECTION AND DETWTSTER CONTROL Walter E. Dean, Taunton, Mass, assignor to John Douglas Robertson, Taunton, Mass.

Application June 17, 1954, Serial No. 437,381

9 Claims. (Cl. 57- 1) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for ensuring absence of any appreciable twist in flexible sheet material which is travelling in a ropeform condition to a means for opening the sheet material to a fully spread condition. More particularly the invention provides for detecting the presence and direction of twist in a travelling rope of textile fabric, or other flexible sheet material, and for initiating proper operation of means for eliminating any detected twist prior to opening of the rope and spreading of the fabric, or other flexible sheet material, to its full width.

In many types of processing of textile fabrics, for example, such as bleaching, dyeing, washing and transporting of certain fabrics, it is a common practice to process them in rope form in preference to processing them in the open width. During such proceming of fabrics in the rope form, it is difficult to prevent the fabric from being twisted unintentionally. Following such a rope-form processing, it is necessary to subject the fabrics to other processes, such as for drying them on drying cylinders or on renter frames, in the open width.

Prior to opening of the fabrics from the rope-form to open width, it is conventional practice to conduct the rope through a detwister mechanism designed to free the rope from twist to facilitate spreading of the fabric to open Width.

Various devices have been proposed heretofore for detecting twist in an advancing rope of fabric and for controlling the operation of detwister mechanism in response to any detected twist.

The invention provides an improved twist-detecting method and means whereby the presence and direction of twist is detected with greater sensitivity and accurateness as compared with the prior comparable devices, and whereby a more effective and simpler automatic control of a detwister mechanism is attained.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of twist detection which effects its detection of twist, and the direction thereof, by the response of two axially movable rolls between and in engagement with which the travelling rope of sheet material passes, the said rolls being actuated in opposite axial directions when twist is present in the travelling rope, and the direction of axial travel of any particular roll due to twist being indicative of the character of the twist.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved twist-detecting rnethod wherein a travelling rope of sheet material is caused to travel between and in engagement with axially movable rolls which travel in opposite axial directions in response to any rotational force transmitted to them by the advancing rope, any said axial travel of the rolls being adapted to effect operation of a detwister mechanism in one direction when one of the rolls travels axially in one direction due to twist, and to effect operation of said detwister mechanism in the opposite direction when said one roll travels axially in the opposite direction due to twist.

A further object of the invention is to provide twistice detecting means wherein a pair of axially movable rolls engage a travelling rope of sheet material and are actuated in opposite axial directions if and when twist is present in the engaged rope, the direction of axial travel of one of the oppositely moving rolls being indicative of the character of the detected twist in the rope.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide detwister control means wherein a travelling rope of flexible sheet material is compressed to a generally flattened condition and conducted on edge between and in engagement with a pair of axially movable rolls whereby the crosswise pulls applied to the flattened rope mass by a ropeopening mechanism causes the flattened rope mass to rotate between the said rolls in direction to tighten any twist in the rope mass thereby to actuate the rolls in opposite axial directions for energizing a detwister mechanism which operates in one direction if the axial travel of one of said rolls is in one direction .and which operates in the opposite direction if the axial travel of said one roll is in the opposite direction.

it is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve twist-detecting methods and apparatus and detwister control methods and means, and more especially such methods, apparatus and means for ensuring the absence of any substantial twist in a travelling rope of textile fabric, or the like, as the rope enters a region in which the fabric is to be opened out into fully spread condition.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 looking at that end which is lower-most in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 3a is a cross-sectional view approximately on line 3a3a of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of one of the twist-detecting rolls with portions broken away and in cross-section; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a simple form of electrical detwister-control circuit.

Referring to the drawings, the particular illustrated embodiment of the invention is adapted to be suspended from a ceiling, or other elevated support by a pair of hanger brackets 10, 10 which support a shaft 12 on which the relatively large grooved wheel 14 is mounted for rotation. Each hanger bracket 10, as illustrated, comprises an angle iron foot part 10a which may be secured to the ceiling, or other support, with the rigid depending channel iron part 10b extending down and providing, at its lower end, a bearing for one end portion of the shaft 12, each channel part 10b preferably having a bearing element welded, or otherwise secured thereto, within its channel.

A conventional variety of pot-eye guide 16 is adjustably supported on shaft 12 with its axis generally in the vertical plane of the center-line of grooved wheel 14, for guiding into the groove of wheel 14 a rope of cloth R, or the like, which may come to the pot-eye guide from a conventional de-twister (not shown). The pot-eye 16 conveniently may be welded in a cut-out 18a of the bridge part 18b of a yoke 18 whose arms are rotatably supported on the opposite end portions of shaft 12.

A second yoke 20 has its arms 20a rotatably supported on the opposite ends of shaft 12, outward of the yoke arms 18c, and the arms 20a have a series of holes 21 therein arcuately arranged about the axis of shaft 12 so that any particular hole 21 may be brought into reg ister with any one of a similar series of arcuately arapproximately on line ranged holes 19 in the arms of yoke 18. Hence, the adjacent arms of the two yokes 18, 20 may be pinned or bolted together and to the adjacent hanger bracket b by a pin or bolt 22 of which there is one at each pair of adjacent yoke arms. When the pins or bolts 22 are removed, the yokes 18 and 20 may be swung about the axis of shaft 12 to bring them into different angular relationships, and they may be pinned or bolted together and to the hanger brackets 1011 with the pins or bolts extending through selected ones of the holes 21 and 19 and through single holes provided in the lower end portions of the depending channel iron bracket parts 10b.

The bridge part 20b of yoke 20 has a relatively large plate element 24 adjustable secured thereon as by the bolts 26, each of which extends through a bearing boss 24a on the plate element 24 and through a slot 200 in bridge part 20b with a nut 27 on the threaded end of each bolt. The plate element may be adjusted on bridge part 20b by loosening the nuts 27.

According to the invention, plate element 24 supports one pair of rolls 28, 30 generally opposite the groove of wheel 14 with the axes of the rolls in general parallelism and disposed generally at right angles to the axis of shaft 12 on which the wheel 14 is mounted. The plate element 24 also supports another pair of rolls 32, 34 whose axes are generally parallel and disposed generally at right angles to the axes of rolls 28, 30. The first mentioned pair of rolls 28, 30 are adapted to engage and compress the rope R of cloth, or other material, which delivers between them from the grooved wheel 14, thereby to generally flatten the rope mass, so that this generally flattened rope mass can deliver substantially on edge between the second pair of rolls 32, 34, and thence to mechanism (not shown) for opening the rope mass to a fully spread condition of the sheet material.

In the drawings, the rope R is travelling generally in vertical direction as it approaches the grooved wheel 14, and is travelling generally in horizontal direction from the wheel 14 to and between the two pairs of rolls 28, 30 and 32, 34. the two pairs of rolls and the pot-eye 16 may be variously adjusted about the axis of wheel shaft 12 and be secured by the bolts or pins 22 with the rolls and the pot-eye in selected positions of adjustment. For example, the rolls may be swung counter-clockwise in Fig. 3 about wheel shaft 12 until the rolls 28, 30 are generally parallel with the support on which brackets 10 are mounted, in which case the rope R would travel generally in vertical direction downward from wheel 14 to and between the two pairs of rolls 28, 30 and 32, 34. Any such adjustment of the rolls around shaft 12 would require suitable adjustment of the roll springs 58, 82, due to the changed effects of gravity on the rolls in their new positions. The pot-eye 16 can be adjusted independently about the axis of shaft 12, by means of pin 22 to accommodate any change in the line of approach of rope R toward grooved wheel 14. Hence, the rolls may be set in any of various positions around the axis of shaft 12. Also, obviously, the brackets 10 may, when desired, be secured to a vertical support or a support inclined to any degree between horizontal and vertical.

According to the invention, the rolls 32, 34 are mounted for independent axial movements in response to any rotation of the flattened portion of the rope mass which is passing on edge between them, and a normally open electric switch adjacent to each end of each roll 32, 34 has a spring-biased actuator in position to be engaged by the adjacent roll end only after the roll has moved axially toward it an adjustable predetermined distance. Following contact of the roll end with the switch actuator, further axial movement of the roll in the same direction is yieldingly opposed by the biasing spring which yields to permit ultimate closing of the switch and positive stopping of roll travel. Hence, the twist detecting means may be adjusted vto provide for actual closing of a switch only It should be understood, however, that after the actuating roll has moved an adjustable predetermined axial distance. This avoids unnecessary too frequent operations of the detwister.

When there is no appreciable twist in the flattened rope mass as it enters between the rolls 32, 34, there will be no appreciable rotation of the engaged mass and no appreciable axial movements of the rolls. In absence of twist, the flattened mass travels on edge substantially perpendicular to the axes of the rolls and the compacted mass opens beyond the rolls 32, 34 in response to the generally equal and opposite cross-wise pulls of the opening mechanism, without any appreciable rotational effects on the roll-engaged rnass. But, when twist is present in the flattened roll-engaged mass, the crosswise pulls of the opening mechanism then will have the effect of rotating the taut edges of the mass immediately after they are released by the nip between rolls 28, 30 and rotation of the edges will continue until the edges reach the predetermined plane of spread-open travel of the sheet to the opening mechanism. Rotation of the mass while engaged between the rolls 32, 34 causes these rolls to be urged in opposite axial directions. The character of any twist in the rope mass determines the direction of rotation of the mass, which latter will be in direction to tighten any twist therein.

It is important to avoid false signalling rotations of the flattened rope mass between the rolls 32, 34, such as might be caused by operation of the detwister in absence of means to prevent it. The compressing rolls 23, 3t) effectively prevent any rotation of the rope at the location of these rolls so that any rotation of the rope mass at rolls 32, 34 necessarily will be entirely due to twist therein in response to the opening pulls of the opening mechanism. Also, the rolls 28, 30 prevent these latter rotations from being transmitted beyond the rolls 23, 30 in direction toward the detwister mechanism.

This actuation of two rolls in opposite axial direc tions when twist is present in a linear element or mass travelling between the rolls provides an effective means for controlling a conventional de-twister, or the like, to remove twist from the advancing rope of cloth or other material, before the travelling rope mass is opened beyond the rolls 32, 34 to fully spread condition, as by sheet guiders, or other comparable mechanism. The axially movable rolls 32, 34 are sensitively responsive to twists of relatively small magnitude, and their opposite movements are utilized to close an electric circuit for operating a de-twister, or the like, in the proper direction for removing the twist. On the other hand, if both rolls 32, 34, for any reason, move in the same direction, the tie-twister circuit will not be energized.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the compressing pair of rolls 28, 30 depend from mounting means by which they are secured to plate element 24. Roll 23 is rotatable on a shaft 36 '(Fig. 4) whose upper end is removably secured, by any suitable means, in a bearing part 38a of a channel iron member 38 (Fig. 1) which may be secured to plate element 24 by screws 40, or the like. Roll 28 may be a hollow open-ended shell, of brass, or aluminum, or any other suitable material. Two spaced bearing elements 42, 44 are rigid on the roll shell, interiorly thereof, and the shaft 36 extends through the bearing elements and has its lower end reduced and threaded for reception of a nut 46 by which the shell is maintained on shaft 36. The lower end of the roll shell preferably is closed by a plug 48. The upper end of the shell is covered by a cap 50 which may be rigid on the bearing part 38a but out of contact with roll 28.

The roll 30 is mounted for swinging movements about the axis of a hinge pin 52 which is secured at its upper end to the plate element 24. A roll-carrying bracket, indicated generally at 54, has a sleeve 56 thereon which is rotatably mounted on hinge pin 52, the hinge pin havingan anuular groove 53 adjacent its free end, and the sleeve 56 having a retaining screw 57 whose inner end engages in the groove 53 of the hinge pin. Arms of the bracket 54 extend obliquely from sleeve 56 to a bearing part 54a at their free ends, and the upper end of the shaft 31 on which roll 30 rotates is secured to hearing part 54a as by the set screw 54b. Bearing part 54a has a cap part 540 rigid thereon for covering the upper open end of the roll shell 30 which may be similar to the roll shell 28. An adjustable tension spring 58 constantly biases roll 30 toward engagement with the roll 28, one end of the spring being anchored at 60 on plate element 24 and the other end of the spring being secured over a head portion of a screw 62 which extends loosely through an ear 54d on bearing part 54a of the hinged bracket 54, with an adjusting nut 64 on the screw engaging back of ear 54d. The tension of spring 58 will be adjusted to provide substantial compression of the rope R of cloth or the like travelling between the rolls 28, 30 from the grooved wheel 14.

The twist-detecting rolls 32, 34 are rotatably and slidably mounted on the shafts 66, 68 respectively. Shaft 66 for roll 32 extends between and has its ends secured to the generally parallel spaced arms 70 each of which is adjustably mounted on a different one of two supporting rods 72, 74 whose upper end portions are secured to a channel iron member 76 which in turn is secured on the outer ends of the two bearing bosses 24a of plate element 24. As shown, each of the spaced arms 70 has a sleeve 71 at its end which is secured to a supporting rod 72 or 74, and the lower end portion of a rod 72 or 74 extends through the sleeve 71. Each sleeve 71 may have two set screws 71a therein for securing the arms 70 in selected positions along the supporting rods 72, 74, each of which latter preferably has a fiat portion 73 or 75 thereon positioned to be engaged by the set screws 71a.

The shaft 68 for the other twist-detecting roll 34 extends between and has its ends secured to the free ends of two generally parallel arms 78 whose other ends are suitably fixed to a pivot shaft 79 whose ends are rotatably supported in projecting ears on supporting sleeves 80 of which there is one adjustably fixed on each supporting rod 72, 74 by means of the set screws 81. A spring 82 acts on roll 34 in opposition to gravity and may be adjusted to support a considerable amount of the weight of the roll so that the travelling rope R will be engaged relatively lightly by the rolls 32, 34 as the rope passes between them. As shown, the spring 82 has one end connected to a projection 83 which is rigid on pivot shaft 79 and has its other end secured over a head portion of a screw 84 which extends loosely through a projection 77 which is rigid on channel iron member 76, with an adjusting nut 86 on the screw engaging back of projection 77. Spring 82 ordinarily will be adjusted to support the weight of roll 34 and its appurtenances with roll 34 resting lightly on rope R so that the rolls 32, 34 will relatively lightly engage the opposite edge portions of the compressed rope as said rope advances on edge between them.

The roll shafts 66, 68 are sufliciently long to permit appreciable axial travel of the rolls thereon, and the surfaces of the rolls 32, 34 preferably are annularly grooved, or otherwise treated to minimize slip therealong of the edge portions of a compressed rope of cloth, or the like, passing between the rolls. Conveniently, the roll surfaces may be annularly grooved and have an O-ring 33 arranged in each groove, as best seen in Fig. 6, to provide non-smooth roll surfaces of a nature to efiectively utilize any untwisting tendency in the lightly engaged flattened rope to effect axial travel of the rolls 32, 34 in opposite directions.

The previously mentioned normally open electric switches at opposite ends of the detector roll 32 may be suitably mounted within the annular casings 88 and 90 respectively, with the actuator 89 of the switch in casing 88 opposite one end of roll 32 and with the actuator 91 of the switch in casing opposite the other end of roll 32. Similarly, the switches at opposite ends of the detector roll 34 may be suitably mounted within the annular casings 96, 98 respectively, with the actuator 97 of the switch in casing 96 opposite one end of roll 34 and with the actuator 99 of the switch in casing 98 opposite the other end of roll 34. Biasing springs 89 and 91' (Fig. 7) oppose closing movements of actuators 89 and 91, and biasing springs 97 and 99 (Fig. 7) oppose closing movements of actuators 97 and 99.

The switches in casings 88, 90, 96, 98 will be in the electrical control circuit of a conventional de-twister apparatus or a comparable device capable of removing twist from a travelling rope of cloth, or other material. Fig. 7 diagrammatically represents a simple electrical control circuit wherein a reversible de-twister, or the like, is represented at 104 connected for operation in one direction if and when roll 32 shifts to the left and roll 34 to the right, and for operation in the opposite direction if and when roll 32 shifts to the right and roll 34 to the left. The de-twister will not become energized if the two switches of either roll become closed simultaneously, which may happen due to vibration or lateral translation of the rope R.

Following any operation of the detwister in response to opposite axial movements of rolls 32, 34, the biasing springs of the two switch actuators which had been closed react through the actuators to restore the rolls 32, 34 nearly to their neutral positions. This return movement of the rolls will leave them short of their neutral positions an amount equal to the lost motion provided to avoid unnecessary starting and stopping of the detwister motor.

Various changes may be made in structural details of the apparatus within the scope of the appended claims, and it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of detecting the presence and direction of twist in a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising passing the travelling rope-like body between and in engagement with two generally parallel members which are independently movable in generally parallel axial directions, and pulling the opposite edges of the sheet material laterally in opposite directions as said rope-like body leaves said parallel members thereby to open said sheet material toward spread condition with said opposite pulls effecting rotation of said rope-like body between said parallel members in direction to tighten any twist that may be present in the rope-like body, and effecting opposite axial movements of said parallel members in response to any said rotation of the rope-like body.

2. The method of detecting the presence and direction of twist in a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising compressing the travelling rope-like body to a cross-sectional shape having appreciably greater depth between two opposite edge portions than width between two opposite flattened side surfaces thereof, and passing said compressed rope-like body edgewise between and in engagement with two generally parallel rolls which are independently movable in generally parallel axial directions whereby any appreciable rotation of the rollengaged rope-like body causes said rolls to move axially in opposite directions, opening the rope-like body as it leaves said rolls by applying opposite lateral pulls to opposite edges of the sheet material, said pulls causing said roll-engaged rope-like body to rotate in direction to tighten any twist that may be present therein whereby said rolls move axially in opposite directions in response to a said rotation of the rope-like body with the direction of axial movement of any particular one of the rolls determined by the character of the twist in said roll-engaged ropelike body.

3. The method of controlling the operation of a detwisting mechanism which is .operatively engaging a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising passing the rope-like body between and in engagement with two axially movable rolls whereby any rotation of the engaged rope-like body actuates the said rolls in opposite axial directions, and efiecting energization of detwister mechanism in response only to opposite axial movements of-the rolls with the detwister mechanism being energized for operation in one direction when one of the oppositely moving rolls moves in one axial direction and being energized for operation in the opposite direction when said one of the oppositely moving rolls moves in the opposite axial direction.

4. The method of controlling the operation of a detwister mechanism through which extends a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising compressing the travelling rope-like body at the delivery side of said mechanism to a cross-sectional shape having appreciably greater depth between two opposite edge portions than width between two opposite flattened side surfaces thereof, passing said compressed rope-like body edgewise between and in engagement with two generally parallel rolls which are independently movable in generally parallel axial directions whereby any rotation of the roll-engaged rope-like body actuates said rolls in opposite axial directions, and effecting energization of said detwister mechanism in response only to opposite axial movements of said rolls with the detwister mechanism being energized for operation in one direction when one of the oppositely moving rolls moves in one axial direction and being energized for operation in the opposite direction when said one of the oppositely moving rolls moves in the opposite axial direction.

5. Apparatus for detecting the presence and direction of twist in a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising a pair of generally parallel members mounted for independent movements in generally parallel axial directions, means for guiding a said rope-like body between said members, means for 'moving said members relatively toward and from each other to position them in relatively light engagement with said rope-like body passing between them, whereby rotation of said rope-like body at the location of its engagement by said members effects opposite axial movements of said members with the directions-of movement of said-members determined by the direction of a said rotation of the rope-like body.

6. Apparatus for detecting the presence and direction of twist in a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising apair of compression rolls mounted and arranged to engage and compress a said rope-like body to provide the body with a cross-sectional shape having appreciably greater depth between two opposite edge portions than width between two opposite flattened side surfaces thereof, a pair of generally parallel detector rolls having their axes disposed substantially at right angles to said compression rolls, said detector rolls being located in advance of said compression rolls in the direction of travel of the rope-like body, whereby said rope-like body may pass substantially on edge between and in engagement with said detector'rolls after leaving said compression rolls, and means supporting said detector rolls for independent axial movements in response to forces applied thereto by the rope-like body, said detector rolls being urged in opposite axial directions in response to any rotation of said compressed rope-like members passing between them with the directions of opposite axial movement of the respective detector rolls determined by the direction of rotation of the rope-like body, and adjustable means for maintaining said detector rolls in relatively light engagement with the rope-like body.

7. Apparatus for detecting the presence and direction of twist in a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material, comprising a pair of generally parallel compression rolls for generally flattening a said rope-like body travelling between them, a pair of generally parallel detector rolls arranged to receive between them the generally flattened rope-like body which delivers from said compression rolls, said generally flattened rope-like body being on edge as it passes between said detector rolls, means supporting said detector rolls for independent movements in axial directions, and means maintaining said detector rolls in relatively light engagement with the edges of said generally flattened rope-like body passing between them, whereby said detector rolls are urged in opposite axial directions in response to any rotation of said generally flattened rope-like body between the detector rolls with the directions of axial movements of the respective detector rolls indicative of the direction of rotation of said rope-like body.

8. Apparatus for controlling the operation of detwister mechanism through which a travelling rope-like body of flexible sheet material is passing, comprising a pair of rolls between which a said rope-like body is guided at a location beyond said detwister mechanism in the direction of travel of said rope-like body, means maintaining said rolls in relatively light engagement with said ropelike body, each said roll being axially movable independently of the other roll, whereby the rolls are urged in opposite axial directions in response to any rotation of said rope-like body as it passes between and in engagement with said rolls, and switch means for effecting energization of an electric circuit to a said detwister mechanism, said switch means being operative to effect energization of said circuit for operation of said detwister mechanism in clockwise direction when one of said oppositely moving rolls moves in one axial direction, and to effect energization of said circuit for operation of said detwister mechanism in counter-clockwise direction when said one of the oppositely moving rolls moves in the opposite axial direction.

9. Apparatus for removing twist from a travelling ropelike body of flexible sheet material, comprising detwister mechanism for acting on said rope-like body and operable in one direction for removing twist of one character from said rope-like body and operable in the opposite direction for removing twist of another character from said rope-like body, a pair of rolls between which said travelling rope-like body is guided at a location beyond said detwister mechanism in the direction of travel of said ropelike body, means maintaining said rolls in relatively light engagement with said rope-like body passing between them, each of said rolls being movable axially independently of the other roll, whereby the said rolls are adapted to move in opposite axial directions if and when the rollengaged portion of the rope-like body rotates due to twist therein when the rope-like body is opened by opposite lateral pulls applied to the opposite edges of the sheet material delivering from between said rolls, and means responsive to opposite axial movements of said rolls for effecting an operation of said detwister mecha- I'llSITl.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,117,603 Dungler May 17, 1938 

